"Delighted that the executive committee has agreed to back me on this crucial reform."

FIFA said reform of the ethics committee was one of the main points made by Mark Pieth, a professor from the Swiss-based Institute of Governance, who has been appointed by FIFA to lead reform of soccer's corruption-plagued governing body.

Blatter was due to hold a news conference later on Friday (1300 GMT)

(Reporting by Brian Homewood; Editing by Mark Meadows)

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